Dismantle: An Anti-White Supremacy Lenten Devotional

Dismantle: An Anti-White Supremacy Lenten Devotional is a project of ELCA Racial Justice. This downloadable resource was created in response to the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly’s call to boldly condemn white supremacy and racist rhetoric.

Lent is a season of reflection and transformation—a time to examine not just our personal faith, but the ways our communities and institutions uphold justice (or don’t). This devotional invites deep engagement with scripture, prayer, and the radical love that Christ calls us into—one that requires confronting systems of oppression and dismantling white supremacy in our churches and beyond.

INTRODUCTION

At the 2019 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), we humbly resolved and proclaimed that:

• 1. “White supremacy is racism and we condemn it; …

• 3. The love of God is for all people, without exception, and we proclaim it;

• 4. The justice and mercy of God are for all people, without exception, and we proclaim this; …

• 7. We are called by Jesus to “love our neighbors as ourselves.” As persons called to love one another as God has loved us, we therefore proclaim our commitment to speak with one voice against racism and white supremacy. … and

• 8. We call all congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to engage in communal study of the structures and rhetoric that empower and fuel racism and white supremacy and to take to heart the teaching of Scriptures, so we may all be better equipped to speak boldly about the equal dignity of all persons in the eyes of God. (Condemnation of White Supremacy and Racist Rhetoric SPR19 - ELCA Resources)”

This Lenten devotional has been created in response to that call.

In the devotional you will find thought-provoking, inviting, challenging and, most important, authentic reflections from 11 ELCA leaders. These contributors were chosen because of their unwavering commitment to God, God’s people, racial justice and the cause of dismantling white supremacy.

These 11 contributors are an impressive and dynamic group. The following pages are filled with the reflections and prayers of rostered leaders (both of Word and Sacrament and of Word and Service); church theologians; members of the Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities; members of the LGBTQIA2+ communities; a director for evangelical mission (DEM); missionaries; published authors; artists; immigrants/migrants; and chaplains.

Each of the 11 contributors was invited to reflect on the lectionary text for their assigned Sunday or holy day and to recommend a resource — for example, a book, poem, song or movie — that they believe will help readers to utilize an anti-white supremacy lens in reading, understanding and/or relating to the biblical text. Each contributor also included a prayer (or invitation) after their reflection.

We sincerely hope that this devotional will be a companion for you as you journey alongside Christ to the cross this Lenten season. May the words of these contributors both challenge you and bring you closer to the radical neighbor love that Christ demands in the Gospels.

For justice,

Rev. Christina Marthield Montgomery
Racial Justice Manager
Office of the Presiding Bishop

Contributing writers:

• Rev. Ian Coen-Frei

• Rev. Erin Coleman Branchaud

• Taína Diaz-Reyes

• Desta Goehner

• Deacon Adrainne Gray

• Sharei Green

• Rev. Alejandro Mejia

• Rev. Christina Marthield Montgomery

• Rev. Veronica John Mwakasungura

• Rev. Margarette Schwanemann Ouji

• Rev. Tuhina Verma Rasche

• Rev. Dr. Andrea L. Walker

Download it, use it in your Lenten journey, and share it with your communities.

32 pages. The devotional is free of charge.